High power ultrasound transducer

Abstract

Disclosed is a high power ultrasound transducer consisting of piezoelectric ceramic elements, an acoustic impedance matching plate, and an assembly of electric contacts arranged to provide voltage to each of said piezoelectric elements. One or more resilient electrically conductive elements enable electric contact between the piezoelectric elements, the impedance matching plate, and the assembly of electric contacts. Disclosed are also an apparatus and method of using the transducer.

1. A high power ultrasound transducer, said transducer comprising: a plurality of piezoelectric elements, a conductive acoustic impedance matching plate, and an assembly of electric contacts arranged to provide voltage to each of said piezoelectric elements;
 a plurality of resilient electrically conductive elements generating a force and pressing said piezoelectric ceramic elements against said matching plate and enabling an electrically conductive path that is free of glue, solder and wire between said piezoelectric elements and said impedance matching plate, and between said piezoelectric elements and said assembly of electric contacts; and 
 a thin non-solid material layer disposed between the piezoelectric ceramic elements and the acoustic impedance matching plate. 
 
     
     
       2. The high power ultrasound transducer according to  claim 1 , wherein the impedance matching plate is made of a mixture of electrically conductive particles with a resin. 
     
     
       3. The high power ultrasound transducer according to  claim 2 , wherein the electrically conductive particles are at least one of a group of metal particles and graphite powder. 
     
     
       4. The high power ultrasound transducer according to  claim 2 , wherein the resin is epoxy. 
     
     
       5. The high power ultrasound transducer according to  claim 1 , wherein the impedance matching plate is electrically conductive. 
     
     
       6. The high power ultrasound transducer according to  claim 1 , wherein the impedance matching plate is thermally conductive. 
     
     
       7. The high power ultrasound transducer according to  claim 1 , wherein the impedance matching plate is plated with a thin layer of electrically conductive material. 
     
     
       8. The high power ultrasound transducer according to  claim 1 , wherein the assembly of electric contacts is at least one of a group of rigid printed wiring boards, flexible printed wiring boards, and metal coated ceramics. 
     
     
       9. The high power ultrasound transducer according to  claim 1 , wherein the resilient electrically conductive elements are at least one of a group of metal springs and polymeric electrically conductive materials. 
     
     
       10. The high power ultrasound transducer according to  claim 1 , wherein the thin non-solid material layer is one of a group of oil, acoustic impedance matching gel, and a non-solid material. 
     
     
       11. The high power ultrasound transducer according to  claim 10 , wherein the thin non-solid material layer is castor oil. 
     
     
       12. The high power ultrasound transducer according to  claim 1 , wherein the thin non-solid material layer is castor oil. 
     
     
       13. The high power ultrasound transducer according to  claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric ceramics elements are immersed in oil. 
     
     
       14. The high power ultrasound transducer according to  claim 13 , wherein the oil is a castor oil. 
     
     
       15. The high power ultrasound transducer according to  claim 10 , wherein the oil is a degassed to reduce air and concentration of volatile compounds. 
     
     
       16. The high power ultrasound transducer according to  claim 10 , wherein said oil reflects the ultrasound energy generated by the piezoelectric ceramic elements. 
     
     
       17. The high power ultrasound transducer according to  claim 10 , wherein the oil homogenizes temperature of the transducer. 
     
     
       18. The high power ultrasound transducer according to  claim 1 , further comprising a housing made of a heat conducting material. 
     
     
       19. The high power ultrasound transducer according to  claim 1 , further comprising a thermoelectric cooler operative to maintain transducer temperature within a desired range. 
     
     
       20. An apparatus for ultrasound tissue treatment, said apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of ultrasound generators; and 
 an ultrasound transducer with one or more piezoelectric ceramics elements, a conductive acoustic impedance matching plate, resilient electrically conductive elements, an assembly of electric contacts enabling a non-glued, non-soldered and non-wired electric contact between the piezoelectric ceramic elements, impedance matching plate, and voltage supplying elements of said transducer, and a thin non-solid material layer disposed between the piezoelectric ceramic elements and the acoustic impedance matching plate. 
 
     
     
       21. The apparatus for ultrasound tissue treatment according to  claim 20 , wherein the ultrasound transducer further comprises an electrically conductive acoustic impedance matching plate serving as a common electrode to the piezoelectric ceramic elements and a temperature homogenizing fluid. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus for ultrasound tissue treatment according to  claim 21 , wherein the voltage supplying elements of the transducer are the acoustic impedance matching plate and the assembly of electric contacts. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus for ultrasound tissue treatment according to  claim 20 , wherein the voltage supplying elements of the transducer are the acoustic impedance matching plate and the assembly of electric contacts. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus for ultrasound tissue treatment according to  claim 20 , wherein the thin non-solid material layer is one of a group of oil and acoustic impedance matching gel. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus for ultrasound tissue treatment according to  claim 20 , wherein the thin non-solid material layer is castor oil. 
     
     
       26. A method for providing an electric contact in a high power ultrasound transducer, said method comprising:
 providing a plurality of piezoelectric ceramic elements, a conductive acoustic impedance matching plate and an assembly of electric contacts configured to supply voltage to each of said piezoelectric ceramics elements; 
 positioning resilient conductive elements between said piezoelectric ceramic elements and said assembly, pressing the piezoelectric elements against the impedance matching plate and ensuring a free of glue, solder, and wire electrical contact with said matching plate and the assembly of electric contacts; and 
 providing a thin non-solid material layer disposed between the piezoelectric ceramic elements and the acoustic impedance matching plate. 
 
     
     
       27. The method according to  claim 26 , wherein also filling the gaps between the piezoelectric ceramic elements and the acoustic impedance matching plate with said non-solid material. 
     
     
       28. A high power phased array ultrasound transducer, said transducer comprising:
 a plurality piezoelectric ceramic elements; 
 an electrically conductive acoustic impedance matching plate; 
 an assembly of electric contacts configured to supply voltage to each of said piezoelectric elements;
 one or more resilient conductive elements located between said piezoelectric elements and the assembly of electric contacts pressing the piezoelectric elements against the impedance matching plate and enabling a non-glued, non-soldered and non-wired electrically conductive path between said piezoelectric elements and said plate and between said piezoelectric elements and said assembly of electric contacts; and 
 a thin non-solid material layer disposed between the piezoelectric ceramic elements and the acoustic impedance matching plate. 
 
 
     
     
       29. The high power phased array ultrasound transducer according to  claim 28 , wherein said pressing of the piezoelectric ceramics enables electric contact with said impedance matching plate. 
     
     
       30. The high power phased array ultrasound transducer according to  claim 28 , wherein said impedance matching plate is a common electrode to said one or more of piezoelectric ceramics elements. 
     
     
       31. An apparatus for ultrasound tissue treatment, said apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of ultrasound generators; 
 an electrically conductive acoustic impedance matching plate; 
 an ultrasound transducer with one or more piezoelectric ceramics elements, resilient electrically conductive elements, and voltage supplying elements enabling electrical contact between the piezoelectric ceramic elements and the voltage supplying elements of said transducer; 
 resilient electrically conductive elements pressing the piezoelectric ceramics elements against the electrically conductive acoustic impedance matching plate and enabling a non-glued, non-soldered and non-wired electrically conductive path between said piezoelectric ceramics elements and said electrically conductive acoustic impedance matching plate; 
 a controller operative to control said ultrasound generators, provide voltage to each of said piezoelectric ceramics element and synchronize their operation; and 
 a thin non-solid material layer disposed between the piezoelectric ceramic elements and the acoustic impedance matching plate. 
 
     
     
       32. The apparatus for ultrasound tissue treatment according to  claim 19 , further comprising a controller operative to control said ultrasound generators, provide voltage to each of said piezoelectric ceramics element and synchronize their operation. 
     
     
       33. A high power phased array ultrasound transducer, said transducer comprising:
 an electrically conductive acoustic impedance matching plate; one or more piezoelectric ceramic elements having an electrical contact on a first side with said plate and on a second side with one or more resilient conductive elements located between said piezoelectric elements and an assembly of electric contacts configured to supply voltage to each of said piezoelectric elements; 
 an interim plate configured to lock and push said assembly of electric contacts against said resilient elements such that pressure applied by said resilient elements is transferred to said piezoelectric elements ensuring a non-glued, non-soldered and non-wired contact with said matching plate; and
 a thin non-solid material layer disposed between the piezoelectric ceramic elements and the acoustic impedance matching plate. 
 
 
     
     
       34. The high power ultrasound transducer according to any one of  claims 1  and  28 , wherein also comprising an interim plate configured to lock and push said assembly of electric contacts against said resilient elements such that pressure applied by said resilient elements is transferred to said piezoelectric elements ensuring contact with said matching plate. 
     
     
       35. The method according to  claim 26 , wherein also comprising locking and pushing said assembly of electric contacts against said resilient elements such that pressure applied by said resilient elements is transferred to said piezoelectric elements ensuring contact with said matching plate.